Foot-ball, punch-ball, and similar playing-ball.



A. BUXTON.

TURNER &

FOOT BALL, PUNCH BALL, AND SIMILAR PLAYING .Bi-ILL. APPLIUATIQN fILHD APE. 2s, 1909.

Patented July 19, 1910.

Vio

UN STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN TURNER AND ANTHONY BUXTON, OF MANCHESTER, ENGLANT), ASSIGNORS TO THE RUBBER PATENTS LIMITED, OF COWLEY, ENGLAND, A JOINT STOCK COMPANY.

FOOT-BALL, PUNCH-BALL, AND SIMILAR PLAYING-BALL.l

ceases.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented July 19, 1910.

Application led April 28, 1909/. Serial No. 492,701.

and Similar Playing-Balls, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto the casings of footballs, punch balls and like playing balls made of segments of canvas coated with indiarubber and sewn or cemented together,

and consists in improvements thereon. It has been found in practice that the aforesaid balls are somewhat stinging to the head, hands or feet in consequence of the canvas being stretched to its full extent when the bladder inserted into the casing is fully inflated, and their resiliency yis somewhat too great for certain purposes.

rl`lie object of this invention is to remedy this inconvenience and to make the balls feel softer and j tliickei' like leather balls, while retaining `eir waterproof quality. @n the. drawing appended hereunto the improved casing is shown in Figure 1 in outside view, and in Fig. 2 in horizontal section, without the bladder.

rlhe object of our invention is attained by combining with the outer casing made of water proofed canvas or canvas and indiarubber, an inner shell or liner of soft felt, or equivalent thick and soft material, such as flannel, flannelette or the like.

On the drawing a represents a shell made y of segments of rubber pi'oofed canvas sewn together and of such size and shape, that .when they are stretched by the inflation of the bladder e the ball assumes the required shape. 'lo this an outer shell b is cemented which may be of rubber coated canvas or rubber. The inner shell or liner c formed of soft felt or its equivalent is formed of segments of such size, that when the ball is inflated, these segments are not stretched `or only very slightly so, so that the softness of the material is not impaired. rlhe Segments forming the liner ma be sewn to the seams of the outer casing a ter it has been vulcan. ized, as shown in the drawing, or they may be sewn together so as to form a complete shell open at the lacing hole, and att-aclied to' the outer casing by being sewn thereto at the lacing hole d. By these means a ball casing having a soft and thick feel is obtained, and tlie resiliency of the ball is somef what moderated, so that it feels and acts like a leather ball, while its waterproof qual ity is retained.

We claim as our invention:

l. An athletic vball or bag casing provided with an opening for receiving a bladder and comprising in combination, an intermediate cover member, an outer ,cover member secured to said intermediate cover member, a

lining of soft fabric secured to and withinV said intermediate cover, and a bladder within said lining, said lining being of sufliciently. increased size with respect to the size of the intermediate cover so as to lie in a. flat, unfolded and loose condition against the intermediate cover upon inflation of the bladder.

2. An athletic ball or bag provided with an opening and comprising in con'ibinatioii, an intermediate cover member composed of a plurality of sections, an outer cover member composed of a plurality of sections cemented to the intermediate member, a lining composed of a plurality of sections sewed to the intermediate sections, and a bladder within said lining, said lining sections being formed'of soft material and being of sufficieiitly increased size with respect to the intermediate sections as to remain loose and lie ,flat againstsaid intermediate sections upon inflation of the bladder.

3. An athletic ball or bag casingprovided with an opening and comprising in combination, an outer cover member, an inner lin-i ing, and a. bladder within therlining. 'said lining being of sufficiently iiicieased size lwith respect to the outer cover member as to lie loosely and flatly against the same when the bag is inflated, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two wit..

nesses.

JOHN TURNER. ANTHONY BUXTON. Witnesses:

CARL BOLE, WILLIAM JONES. 

